EPA v. GOOLSBEY/ANSTETT MINE

Case summary

SUMMARY DEF OPERATED PLACER MINES ON YELLOW CREEK AND FRIDAY CREEK W/IN BORDERS OF DENALI NATL PARK. MINES RECOVERED GOLD FR NEAR-SURFACE DEPOSITS BY PROCESSING DRDGD SOIL/GRAVE L THRU SLUICE BOXES. FR 6/82 TO 6/83, DEF DIVERTED WTR FROM YELLOW CRK. AFTER WTR PASSED THRU BOXES, PICKING UP POLLUTANTS, IT WAS DSCHRGD INTO YELLOW CRK W/O TRTMNT. NATL PRK SERVICE INSPECTD FAC MANY TIMES. EACH TIME, DEF WERE DSCHRGING EFFLUENTS INTO YELLOW CRK W/O USE OF SETTLING PONDS. ON 06/07/82, EPA INFORMED DEF THAT DSCHRGS REQ NPDES PRMTS AND IF DEF COMPLIED W/TERMS SET IN LETTER, EPA WOULD CONSIDER DEF IN COMPL W/CWA. ON 09/17/83, DEF HAD SINGLE FAILED STTLG POND AND SAMPLING SHOWED SIGNIF VIOL OF ST WTR QUALITY STAND. IN 06/83, DEF LEFT FAC W/O DOING RECLAMATION AND BEGAN MINING AT FRIDAY CRK. DEF DIVERTED WTR FR FRIDAY CRK AND DID NOT TREAT IT BEFORE RETURNING. DSCHRGS OBSERVED BY NPS RANGERS IN 06/83. ON 09/10/83, EPA INSPECTION SHOWED EFFLUE NT DSCHRG INTO FRIDAY CRK W/O TRTMNT. COMPLAINT SEEKS RELIEF FOR DSCHRG VIOL W/O NPDES PRMT AND TO ENJOIN DEF FR FURTHER DSCHRG INTO YELLOW CRK, FRIDAY CRK OR ANY OTHER NAVIGABLEWTRS EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY CWA. COMPLAINT ALSO SEEKS CIV PNLTY OF $10,000/DAY FOR VIOL.

Defendants (2)

• ANSTETT, D.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• GOOLSBEY, L.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• GOOLSBEY ANSTETT MINE KANTISHN

  FRIDAY CRK ALDER CLAIMS 1THRU4, KANTISHNA, AK, 99700

  Registry ID: 110010647559

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• GOOLSBEY/ANSTETTentered 1985-05-01

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $5,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1984-03-12Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-04-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-08-01Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-05-01Final Order Lodged
• 1985-05-01Final Order Entered
• 1985-05-01Concluded
• 1988-06-02Enforcement Action Closed